The Freedom Watch

Fifth of CIA applicants with suspect backgrounds have ‘significant terrorist’ connections

"Although the file did not describe the nature of the jobseekers’ extremist or hostile ties, it cited Hamas, Hezbollah and Al-Qaeda and its affiliates most often. The fear of infiltration is such that the NSA planned last year to investigate at least 4,000 staff who obtained security clearances. The NSA detected potentially suspicious activity among staff members after trawling through trillions of employee keystrokes at work. The suspicious behavior included staffers accessing classified databases they do not usually use for their work or downloading several documents, two people familiar with the software used to monitor staff told the Post." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFifth of CIA applicants with suspect backgrounds have ‘significant terrorist’ connections

FBI increases surveillance of Syrians in U.S.

"The FBI has beefed up its surveillance of Syrians living in the United States ahead of a possible US military attack on Syria, The New York Times reported Sunday. The newspaper said FBI agents are set to interview hundreds of Syrians in the coming days. US officials are especially concerned because Syria’s close ally Iran has warned that any military action on Syria would leave Israel in flames. It said senior FBI officials have also directed the bureau’s field offices to follow up with sources linked to Syrians as part of an effort to identify any talk of a retaliatory strike. And Syrians currently under investigation will be placed under closer scrutiny." Continue reading →

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Snowden files reveal NSA spied on Brazil and Mexico presidents

"Rio de Janeiro-based journalist Glenn Greenwald told Globo on Sunday that a document dated June 2012 shows that Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto’s emails were being accessed. That was a month before his election. The NSA also intercepted some of Pena Nieto’s voicemails. The communications included messages in which the future leader discussed the names of potential cabinet members. As for Brazil’s Dilma Rousseff, the NSA said in the document that it was trying to better understand her methods of communication and interlocutors using a program to access all Internet content the president visited online." Continue reading →

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Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom plans to launch new political party in New Zealand

"Dotcom said his plans were still embryonic but the yet-to-be-named party would launch on January 20, the second anniversary of an armed police raid on his Auckland mansion which resulted in him being charged with online piracy. The Internet mogul revealed few details of his platform beyond saying he wanted to improve New Zealand’s information technology infrastructure, including 'fair Internet pricing and no more data caps'. Dotcom, who denies any wrongdoing and is free on bail as he fights extradition to the United States, also took a swipe at Prime Minister Key, whom he accuses of bowing to Hollywood pressure by pursuing the case against him." Continue reading →

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Gun ownership gets easier in Texas starting Sunday

"Texas is taking steps to be even cozier for concealed handgun license holders. Texas passed its concealed handgun license law in 1995, and since then has required applicants to undergo 10 to 15 hours training minimum. That standard included classroom and shooting range instruction. But instructors said they really don’t need that much time, and lawmakers cut the training requirements in half. Other changes taking effect Sunday will allow license holders to renew online and provide easier access to obtaining fingerprints for applications. Also, license holders will be certified to carry a revolver or semi-automatic pistol, regardless of what type of gun they used in class." Continue reading →

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Record labels ask UK broadband providers to collect data on illegal downloads

"BT, Virgin Media, BSkyB and TalkTalk are being asked by music and film companies to sign up to a voluntary code for policing illegal downloading. Negotiations have been underway for some months with the BPI, which represents the major labels including Warner, Sony and Universal, and the British Video Association, whose members include the BBC and Hollywood studios. Measures could include throttling internet connections to slow them down, blocking users from particular sites, disconnecting offenders from broadband for a limited period, and ultimately prosecution. In order to implement these measures, broadband companies would need to keep a list of those customers." Continue reading →

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Policing Prosecutors

"A hungry man stealing a loaf of bread from a market to feed his family is treated differently than a con man bilking senior citizens for personal gain. Aaron Swartz knew he was breaking the law when he downloaded those articles. What he did not know, was that if a prosecutor wanted to make his life hell, she could credibly see to it that he was locked up until his mid 50’s. We should make sure that punishments fit crimes, and that when we collectively threaten to remove a human being from society for a generation or two, they actually did something worthy of such a profound punishment." Continue reading →

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America’s new ‘digital public library’ brings millions of documents online

"The Digital Public Library of America site dp.la will launch April 18 with more than two million objects — including digital renderings of photos, books, manuscripts and other items from places such as the Smithsonian Institution, along with museums, libraries and historical institutions around the country. Cohen said DPLA will be 'a lot more comprehensive' than Google books, with 'the full array of materials including music, photography, all kinds of art and manuscripts.' He said the material will be online 'in an open fashion, and not a gated fashion.'" Continue reading →

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